John Fox - "Defensive Guru" - Why? How?

[PeteRozelle]

I ask the Following question honestly...

How did John Fox become known as a Great Defensive Coordinator?

Raiders Total Defense Ranking

1992 - 9th in NFL

1993 - 9th in NFL

1994 - 10th in NFL (John Fox was the DC)

1995 - 11th in NFL (John Fox was the DC)

1996 - 8th in NFL

Giants Total Defense Ranking

1995 - 17th in NFL

1996 - 14th in NFL

1997 - 18th in NFL (John Fox was the DC)

1998 - 19th in NFL (John Fox was the DC)

1999 - 13th in NFL (John Fox was the DC)

2000 - 5th in NFL (John Fox was the DC)

2001 - 14th in NFL (John Fox was the DC)

2002 - 9th in NFL

I know stats are not everything, but with the exception of the Giants 2000 season, there isnt a big jump in defensive ranking. In fact in both his DC tenures, the defense improved the year after he left.

Basically he didnt tank any defense, but nor did he take them to greatness either. I think his rise to glory, and I cant remember the year, was when the giants trounced the vikings in the playoffs, like 48 - 0 . That was just one game though, can you base that game as a barometer for his DC abilities?

Discuss....

[SorthNarolina]

he's a good football coach, he prefers to rely on the defense, he's a defensive minded coach

that's why we like the run on offense, let the defense rest and take time off the clock

defensive guru is a title i would give more to monte kiffin or a jim johnson kind of guy

[mwandmw]

I'd label him as conservative, not a defensive guru. Conservative coaches are usualy defensive minded coaches. As Sorthnarolina (damn that is hard to type) said, run, run, run, punt, keep the defense off the field and let them rest. If you have a great running game and limit the other team to 6 or 8 possessions, then it's easy for the defense to make a few stops and not give up too many points.

But believe me, I'd never label Foxy as a defensive guru. There were NO defensive gurus on the field that night against Larry Fitz.

[thefuzz]

Guru should be held for only Rex Ryan, Jim Johnson, Kiffen, LeBeau, and Belichick.

[carpanfan96]

I ask the Following question honestly...

How did John Fox become known as a Great Defensive Coordinator?

Raiders Total Defense Ranking

1992 - 9th in NFL

1993 - 9th in NFL

1994 - 10th in NFL (John Fox was the DC)

1995 - 11th in NFL (John Fox was the DC)

1996 - 8th in NFL

Giants Total Defense Ranking

1995 - 17th in NFL

1996 - 14th in NFL

1997 - 18th in NFL (John Fox was the DC)

1998 - 19th in NFL (John Fox was the DC)

1999 - 13th in NFL (John Fox was the DC)

2000 - 5th in NFL (John Fox was the DC)

2001 - 14th in NFL (John Fox was the DC)

2002 - 9th in NFL

I know stats are not everything, but with the exception of the Giants 2000 season, there isnt a big jump in defensive ranking. In fact in both his DC tenures, the defense improved the year after he left.

Basically he didnt tank any defense, but nor did he take them to greatness either. I think his rise to glory, and I cant remember the year, was when the giants trounced the vikings in the playoffs, like 48 - 0 . That was just one game though, can you base that game as a barometer for his DC abilities?

Discuss....

Ok, yea not very good with the overall as in terms 0f ranking in ny, but you have to take into consideration the offense of the teams he coached on for example.

94 - raiders ranked 19th in offensive yards, 17th in top

95 - raiders ranked 11th in offensive yards, 12th in top

96 -raiders ranked 8th in offensive yards, 8th in top.

Defense on the field shorter allows them to play harder.

He did an excellent job both years.

Now onto NYG's Offensive production during his tenure there as DC

97 - NYG ranked 27th in yards, 16th in top

98 - NYG ranked 29th in yards, 25th in top

99 - NYG ranked 17th in yards, 14th in top

00 - NYG ranked 13th in yards, 7th in top

01 - NYG ranked 9th in yards, 17th in top

02 - NYG ranked 6th in yards, 8th in top

Correlation it doesn't really matter how good you are at game planning and coaching if the offense stinks and your defense is on the field the whole game its a lot harder to field an effective defense. I think he did a good job at both jobs expect in 99, his defense should have been better then the 17th ranking it was. No guru but did a really good job for the most part his whole career as a dc